Wolfpack finds purpose on Senior Day

Published: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 12:28 AM.

RALEIGH — Sixteen North Carolina State football players will take part in their final home game when the Wolfpack meets Boston College today.

There’s still something for them to prove, coach Tom O’Brien said.

“They came here and wanted to be a part of it and it’s going to be tough to say good-bye to them,” O’Brien said. “They’ve done a lot. They’ve helped establish a culture and a way you’re supposed to run a program to where you can win football games.”

The class has a chance for a 24th victory across a three-year period. The school record for such a stretch is 26, something done twice in the program’s history. And, there will be a bowl game.

“The only thing we can control is beating Boston College,” O’Brien said. “We could be the only seven-win team still in contention (for a bowl out of the ACC). That’s what we’re playing for.

“It’s a good challenge for our team. We need to win, get to our seventh win and find a way to go to a nice bowl game.”

N.C. State could improve its stock in the bowl sweepstakes by winning. It’s possible that the Wolfpack could be third in the pecking order out of the ACC behind Florida State and Clemson.

RALEIGH — Sixteen North Carolina State football players will take part in their final home game when the Wolfpack meets Boston College today.

There’s still something for them to prove, coach Tom O’Brien said.

“They came here and wanted to be a part of it and it’s going to be tough to say good-bye to them,” O’Brien said. “They’ve done a lot. They’ve helped establish a culture and a way you’re supposed to run a program to where you can win football games.”

The class has a chance for a 24th victory across a three-year period. The school record for such a stretch is 26, something done twice in the program’s history. And, there will be a bowl game.

“The only thing we can control is beating Boston College,” O’Brien said. “We could be the only seven-win team still in contention (for a bowl out of the ACC). That’s what we’re playing for.

“It’s a good challenge for our team. We need to win, get to our seventh win and find a way to go to a nice bowl game.”

N.C. State could improve its stock in the bowl sweepstakes by winning. It’s possible that the Wolfpack could be third in the pecking order out of the ACC behind Florida State and Clemson.

Boston College will be playing its final game of the season. It could be the last game for coach Frank Spaziani, who has been under scrutiny as the Eagles have floundered again. Spaziani is a former assistant coach (mostly as defensive coordinator) under O’Brien, who left Boston College in December 2006 to take the N.C. State job.

“In the five years we’ve played Boston College, they’ve been tougher mentally and they’ve been tougher physically,” O’Brien said.

N.C. State has areas to examine after last week’s 62-48 loss at Clemson.